The R.A.G. Files

Rearmount. The chamber of Commerce kicked off a new public relations campaign to welcome new immigrants, and then encourage them to go home.

"We represent all businesses in Martina County," said Rutherford Olsen, Chamber President and spokesman. "What business is telling us is that they really like having 'em here, but they're taking all the jobs and having too many kids. We just don't have any more room up here."

Olsen further explained that, "They're just the greatest, these folks you know. They want to pull themselves up by their bootstaps, which is just great, except that there are not any more bootstraps to pull around here. We thought we should do something about it, but in a friendly, welcoming way, to show what kind of people we are."

The officers of the Chamber of Commerce then sent a survey to local businesses to gauge their feelings on the matter, which led to a unanimous vote. "We said, hey lets welcome them to leave, but do it in a really nice way."

In order to demonstrate their sincerity and good will to the Latino community, flyers were printed in Spanish, or Mexican explaining the position of the Chamer of Commerce. "I haven't read the translation yet, but we talked about the language at all of our meetings. We were real careful."

The flyers refer to Mexicans, "but we really mean everybody, all the immigrants, the non-natives, the Mexican speaking people. It was really just an oversight on our part, an honest mistake. When the next batch of flyers go to press we will be more careful and only refer to 'Mexican speakers'," explained Olsen.

Olsen continued, "The flyers basically say: 'thanks so much for choosing to be a part of Rearmount and Martina County. We really appreciate your super presence here. We know you abide by our laws, work hard and are quiet. But due to a lack of jobs and an abundance of children, we want to please welcome you to leave here as quickly as possible, and return to your native land of Mexico where there are more opportunities.' That's basically what it says, more or less," said Olsen. "We also offer some seed money for the boat trip back to Mexico, that we can distribute to some families."

When asked why so much effort was put into creating an impression of civility and goodwill, Olsen became somewhat offended, "well, why do you think? We mean goodwill, toward these people. We are civil. The Mexicans contribute to our community in many ways. Its cold up here, and from their culture we get such neat, neat things like those big hats and that warm food that sits so well in your belly. Of course we have only the best intensions for these people. We wish them well wherever they may go. That's why. The Mexicans are just as much Minnesotan as you or I."